General News

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24676, 20 September 1945, Page 4

General News

* Prices of New Cars No priority system for the distribution of new motor-cars is contemplated by the Government, and motor dealers will probably have a free hand in distributing them. Prices will be controlled by the Price Tribunal, according to a recent Gazette notice. Other articles brought within Price Tribunal control by this notice are new motortrucks, commercial and farm tractors, farm implements and machinery, winches, bulldozer blades and power ! shovels. There is still no intention to extend price control to used cars. This was considered some years ago and found to be impracticable.—(F.O.P.R.) Reclamation Board’s Final Meeting The final meeting of the Canterbury Reclamation Board will be held in Christchurch on September 28, and invitations have been extended to citizens and - representatives of organisations which have assisted the board to attend a special function immediately after the board meeting. At this function, certificates and letters from the Minister of Supply (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) will be presented in recognition of services rendered to the board. A Woman Aloft A young Post and Telegraph messenger. Miss J. Simpson, made a name for herself when she climbed to the top of the riggipg of the main mast of the four-masted barque, Pamir, berthed at King’s Wharf, Wellington. “I wonder what it would feel like to be up there.” she remarked, on going aboard to deliver a telegram. “Why don’t you go up and find out,” jokingly suggested some of the crew. Miss Simpson accepted the challenge, and climbed up the ratlines until • she reached very near to the top of the main mast. As handily as she had gone aloft, she descended to the deck, her daring feat being cheered by the onlookers.— (P. A.) Liaison With Technical College Stating that trade training at the Technical College would be very much more effective if there were a closer liaison between trade and industry and the staff and board of the college, Mr F. C. Penfold suggested to the council of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association' last evening that a small expert committee represent§tive of trade should be formed to keep in touch with the board and the staff, who needed to be fully informed of the type of training required for students. Mr Penfold had earlier spoken in praise of the,work being done by the Christchurch and Pa-anui colleges, and had paid a warm tribute to the work of the board’s chairman (Mr T. W. West) and the principal (Dr. D. E. Hansen) and staff members. After several members of'the council had endorsed M? Penfold’s remarks, it was agreed to refer his suggestion to the education committee for Investigation. Food for Britain “The Government has under consideration the question of furnishing additional supplies of foodstuffs to the United Kingdom, but it is impossible to make a decision until we know the quantities of food the United States forces will require to purchase from New Zealand,” said the Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Nash), in reply to a question asked by Mr E. P. Aderman (Opposition, New Plymouth) in the House of Representatives on the effects of the termination of lendlease. Mr Aderman had said that the cancellation of the agreement would create serious food problems in Britain this winter.—(F.O.P.R.) First Passenger Flight

Exhibited at the annual meeting last evening of the Canterbury Aero Club was the first receipt issued in Canterbury for payment for a passenger flight. The receipt, dated Januai • 14, 1919, was made out to a Mr Murray, and was for £7 10s, th " being payment for 15 minutes’ flying. Achilles to Relieve Gambia

When the New Zealand cruiser Achilles comes out of dock at the Devonport naval base she will go to Japanese waters to relieve the other New Zealand cruiser, the Gambia, which will then return to Auckland. This information has been given by the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones), who is not yet able to say when the Achilles will leave or when the Gambia will return—(F.O.P.R. Housing at Harewood The effect of the temporary housing scheme at Harewood on the activities of the Canterbury Aero Club was discussed at the annual meeting of the club last evening. It was stated that the presence of children would constitute a danger. The secretary. Mr P. R. Climie, said that it was quite a long walk from the field to where the housing would be. The aerodrome could, he said, be placed out of bounds to the tenants. Akaxoa Highway Surveyors are at present engaged on the Christchurch-Akaroa highway, work on which was suspended because of the war. This reply was given by the Minister of Works (the Hon. R. Semple) in the House of Representatives yesterday, in reply to a. question by Mr T. H. McCombs (Government, Lyttelton), who had asked if the Minister would give early consideration to recommencing the work. Mr Semple said consideration would be given to this work,, proposals for which were being prepared, in conjunction with other similar works.—(F.O.P.R.) Runways at Harewood The opinion that the Harewood aerodrome would have to be twice its present size was expressed bv Mr A. R. Galbraith at the annual meeting last evening of the Canterbury Aero Club. Mr Galbraith said that the longest runway at Harewood was just under a mile. “It should be double that,” he said. “In England the modern runways are being made five miles long.” Train Services “Heavy calls are being made on the Railways Department to provide special trains for military purposes, consequent upon the return of large drafts of men from overseas, and until such time as coal supplies are substantially increased restricted train services will require to be maintained throughout New Zealand.” said the Minister of Railways (the Hon. R. Semple) yesterday, in reply to a question asked by Taranaki members in the House of Representatives. He said coal stocks at the disposal of the Railways Department were still very low. Rejection of Onions «

A big stack of onions, obviously not in the best of condition, outside the dehydration factory at Riccarton, were part of a purchase of 18,000 cental sacks rrtade by the United States Joint Purchasing Board, explained Mr J. A. Manton, local manager of the Internal Marketing Department, yesterday. All the onions had been stored at the grounds of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association until orders were received for their shipment, and the 603 sacks now in the open at the dehydration factory represented the portion rejected for shipment. The onions, said Mr Manton, were the property of the United States Joint Purchasing Board, at whose cost they had been stored. It was generally recognised that last season’s onions had not kept well, but the percentage of rejection was still small. The storage of onions in the open was a general practice. The 603 bags of onions would not be a complete loss, said Mr Manton. as they would be picked oyer for marketable onions. Dehydration of the onions was not being considered. Entertainment for Service Personnel

So far only about 100 servicemen and women have applied for tickets for the civic entertainment next Wednesday to service personnel who have returned to the Dominion since April 13, 1944, the date of the last civic welcome. The Town Clerk (Mr H. S. Feast) said yesterday that a large gathering was expected, but apparently the returned men and women, as they had done on former occasions, were leaving their applications late 1 . This made catering arrangements extremely difficult, and he asked for the co-operation of those who intended to be present. For the benefit of returned personnel who are unable to make application on week days, an officer of the City Council will be in attendance at the City Council Chambers to issue tickets between 10 a.m. and noon on Saturday.